This week’s lunch seminar was led by Prof. Donald Bates of University of Melbourne and LAB Architecture studio. Donald Bates is Design Director and Principal at LAB Architecture Studio is a firm of architects and urban designers based in Melbourne, Australia with international offices in London and Beijing. LAB architecture studio is a practice pursuing the formulation of original, challenging contemporary building projects.

The firm is best known for their design for Federation Square in Melbourne. In 1997 an international design competition was launched by the Victorian Government with a focus of creating new civic space for Melbourne, connecting Flinders Street to the Yarra River and enhancing the cultural attributes of the city. Five designs were shortlisted from the 177 entries. The winning design of Bates Smart Architects and Lab Studio Architects was announced in July 1997.

The building footprint of 44,000 square metres the precinct incorporates commercial, civic and cultural programs. Along with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafes and retail spaces larger institutions represented include the Ian Potter Centre (NGV), The Australian Centre of the Moving Image (ACMI), Melbourne headquarters for SBS Television and the Melbourne Visitor Centre.